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Abstract Aim This study aims to assess the effectiveness of therapy of human synovial membrane-derived MSCs (SM-MSC) from OA grade IV patients in treating knee OA. Methods SM-MSC were isolated from patients undergoing total knee replacement surgery, cultured to the fourth passage, and characterized using flow cytometry. Differentiation potential was assessed through lineage-specific staining. Osteoarthritis was induced in 24 Wistar rats via monosodium iodoacetate (MIA). The rats were divided into three groups: negative control, OA control, and OA treated with SM-MSC. Radiological, histopathological, and molecular analyses were conducted to evaluate cartilage repair and gene expression. Results Flow cytometry confirmed the MSC phenotype of SM-MSC, and successful differentiation was observed. Radiological and histopathological analyses showed significant improvement in the SM-MSC treated group, with reduced cartilage damage and higher Safranin O staining compared to the OA control group. Gene expression analysis indicated increased type-2 collagen (COL-2) expression in the SM-MSC treated group, although MMP-13 levels remained unchanged across all groups. Conclusion Human SM-MSCs from OA grade IV patients significantly improved cartilage repair in an OA rat model, demonstrating their potential as a therapeutic option for OA. To enhance long-term efficacy and anti-inflammatory effects, further studies are needed to optimize treatment protocols, including injection frequency and dosage.

Background/Aims: Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) is a prevalent disease that is often underdiagnosed and undertreated, leading to resulting in diminished health-related quality of life. The PEI questionnaire (PEI-Q), a patient-reported outcome questionnaire developed to diagnose and evaluate PEI, is available only in English. The study aimed to provide a Turkish translation of PEI-Q and validate its reliability and diagnostic performance in a Turkish-speaking population with PEI. Materials and Methods: This study included 161 participants: 98 patients with PEI and 63 healthy controls. Participants underwent the PEI-Q test, and the results were statistically analyzed for reliability and validity. The diagnostic value of PEI-Q was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess internal consistency, while exploratory factor analysis was performed to determine construct validity and reveal the factor structure. Results: The mean age of participants was 45.0 years, and 60.2% were male. Participants with PEI were significantly older than those without. Scores for abdominal, bowel movement, and total symptoms were significantly higher in patients with PEI than in controls. ROC analysis revealed good diagnostic value for PEI-Q, with areas under the curve ranging from 0.798 to 0.851 for different symptom scores. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were above 0.70, indicating good internal consistency, and exploratory factor analysis supported a 4-factor structure, accounting for 68.9% of the total variance. Conclusion: The Turkish version of the PEI-Q is a reliable, easy-to-use, and valid screening tool for diagnosing PEI. It consistently assesses symptoms and quality of life in patients with PEI, helping to inform diagnosis and treatment.

Conjoined twins occur in an estimated one in every 200,000 live births. The etiology remains largely speculative, with genetic and environmental factors being considered. The thoraco-omphalopagus type accounts for approximately 40% of cases, making it a focal point for clinical and radiological research. Radiological imaging plays a pivotal role in delineating anatomical details, offering insights into the feasibility of surgical interventions and informing parental counselling regarding prognosis and management options. We present a case of thoracoomphalogus conjoined twins diagnosed during the third trimester of pregnancy in a 19-year-old woman. The detailed radiological assessment using ultra-sound and MRI provided crucial information on organ sharing and vascular anatomy, which is critical for management strategies. This case underscores the critical role of prenatal imaging in detecting complex congenital anomalies, facilitating informed decision-making by healthcare providers and families.

As a result of the increasing use of quantum dots (QDs) and increased exposure of human beings to quantum dots, the study of the toxicity of the particles has become an important issue. In this study, the protective activity of silymarin and mitoquinone (MitoQ), which are known to have antioxidant properties, on the histopathological and biochemical changes observed in the liver of mice treated with CdTe QDs was investigated. 26 male Swiss mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control (G1), CdTe QDs (G2), silymarin + CdTe QDs (G3), mitoquinone + CdTe QDs (G4) application groups. Animals were sacrificed 24 hours (h) after injections and hyperspectral microscopy images were obtained. According to the ICP–MS results, the CdTe QDs injected through the tail vein accumulated in the liver at the end of 24 h and caused tissue damage according to the hematoxylin & eosin examination, and better preservation was observed with the antioxidant pre–treatment. The immunofluorescence results showed increased inflammation and apoptosis in the QDs group. It was observed that silymarin and mitoquinone decreased anti–MMP–9, anti–IL–10, anti–IL–1b, anti–TNF–α, and anti–caspase–9, TUNEL–positive cell ratio, liver MDA levels. There was no significant difference in serum TAS (P=0.509), TOS (P=0.588) levels, but antioxidants also increased tissue SOD and CAT levels. Antioxidants had no significant effect on anti–MT–MMP2 and anti–caspase–8 levels (P

Purpose: this article aims to investigate the corrosion behavior of nodular cast iron, a common material used in sewage pump systems. When exposed to acidic conditions. By understanding the underlying mechanisms. Methodology: the experimental strategy used to accomplish this aim was as follows: 1- Immersion test: samples of nodular cast iron were immersed in an acidic medium for 30, 60, 90 days. 2-Electrochemical tests: electrochemical techniques were used to assess the corrosion rate and mechanism. 3-Surface analysis: to describe the corrosion products and surface morphology, surface analysis methods such energy- dispersive X- ray spectroscopy (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used. Findings: pitting corrosion: nodular cast iron exhibited a high susceptibility to pitting corrosion, leading to localized metal loss. Unstable oxide layer: the formation of an unstable oxide layer on the metal surface contributed to the initiation and propagation of corrosion. Uniform corrosion: in addition to pitting, uniform corrosion was also observed, resulting from the dissolution of the metal in the acidic medium. Implications: improved material selection: careful material selection to ensure the long-term durability of pump components. Effective corrosion mitigation strategies: such as protective coatings and cathodic protection. Enhanced wastewater management.

Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's Wort) extract (HPE), powdered H. perforatum (PHP), and selenium (Se) on growth, intestinal flora, and immunity of broiler chicks were investigated. In total, 504 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated into 6 dietary treatments, which were then denoted as negative control (NC) group (basal diet), containing organic Se 0.2% in the starter and grower period as positive control (PC), containing 1% PHP in the starter and grower period, and HPE I, HPE II, and HPE III groups containing respectively, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 mL / kg HPE in the starter and grower period. The results on performance showed that a significant (P < 0.05) higher body weight of chickens in the HPE III group was observed when compared with that of the NC and PHP groups. Although average daily weight gain and feed intake are significant in the HPE III group, the difference in terms of total feed conversion rate was insignificant (P > 0.05). The liver weights in PC and HPE III were lower compared to HPE I (P < 0.05). The difference in total lactic acid bacteria count (TLABC) between the NC group and all HPE groups was found to be significant (P ˂ 0.05), in addition to TLABC was higher in the HPE III group than other groups (P = 0.001). The highest serum antibody titers to the Newcastle disease vaccine were determined in the HPE III group on the 24th, 35th, and 42nd days of age. IL-1B and IL-6 were found to be insignificant between the groups in chickens (P ˃ 0.05). TNF-α in the HPE III group was greatly increased than the other groups and significant compared to the NC and HPE I groups (P = 0.018). In conclusion, 4.5 mL / kg HPE, which has a low production cost and is easy to extract and without causing environmental problems, varied significantly in their impact on growth performance, intestinal microflora, and immunity of growing broilers.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a clinical condition that arises acutely in the pancreas through various inflammatory pathways due to multiple causes. Turkish Society of Gastroenterology Pancreas Working Group developed comprehensive guidance statements regarding the management of AP that include its epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, disease severity, treatment, prognosis, local and systemic complications. The statements were developed through literature review, deliberation, and consensus opinion. These statements were ultimately used to develop a conceptual framework for the multidisciplinary management of AP.

Background:. Assessing perfusion in free flaps is crucial in clinical practice. Indocyanine green (ICG) angiography offers a more objective and reproducible method, utilizing near-infrared imaging to monitor flap vascularization. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of diluted ICG as a tool for assessing free flap perfusion. Methods:. This pilot randomized clinical trial compares the fluorescence concentrations of ICG at 3 different dilutions: 5 mg/mL (standard concentration), 2.5 mg/mL (half the standard concentration), and 0.5 mg/mL (one-tenth of the standard concentration). Inclusion criteria required participants to have serum albumin levels above 3 g/dL, hemoglobin levels over 10 g/dL, and no comorbidities. Participants were randomized into 3 groups based on ICG concentration. Fluorescence analysis was performed using ImageJ software to determine mean gray values. Both surgeons and data analysts were blinded to the ICG concentrations administered, ensuring unbiased evaluation. Results:. Forty-five patients undergoing free flap surgery, predominantly male (60%) with a mean age of 37.76 ± 19.79 years and a mean body mass index of 21.23 ± 4.49 kg/m², primarily received osteoseptocutaneous fibular free flaps (46.67%), with an average skin flap area of 66.07 ± 46.94 cm². The primary etiology was underlying tumors (84.4%), with the head and neck as the most common reconstruction site (82.2%). The superior thyroid artery was the most frequently used recipient vessel (37.78%). Analysis revealed mean gray values of 64.10 ± 8.27 (5 mg/mL), 79.03 ± 2.7 (2.5 mg/mL), and 33.56 ± 3.47 (0.5 mg/mL), with 2.5 mg/mL yielding the highest value (P < 0.001). Conclusions:. Findings suggest using 2.5 mg/mL concentration enhances fluorescence emission, offering a dosage alternative in clinical practice.

This study investigated the effects of different processing techniques and sol-gel coating on the physical properties of biocomposite material. Two dispersion series from corn starch, clay, and sorbitol were prepared by conventional and microwave-assisted processing, and casting technique. One film from each series was sol-gel coated by immersion. All the samples were subjected to moisture content (MC), water solubility (WS), water absorption (WA), FT-IR, DSC, and SEM/digital microscopy tests. The results showed that the coated films contained higher MC (11.5±0.5%) than the non-coated films (5.3±0.6%) and absorbed less water (44.7±12.4%), compared to the non-coated ones (166.3±2.5%). Non-coated films exhibited less solubility in water (26.1±0.2%) than the coated ones (51.0±0.7%). FT-IR test detected cross-linking (1723 cm-1 ester) in the microwave-assisted coated film. The sol-gel coating increased the latent heat of melting and specific heat values by 14.9% and 19.4% for conventionally fabricated samples, and 22.3% and 25.3% for microwaved films, respectively, whereas it reduced the temperature of melting by 23.1% for conventionally fabricated ones, and 6.6% for microwaved ones. Microscopic tests revealed that microwaved compact morphology indicated better gelatinization of starch. Overall, microwaving and sol-gel coating need further investigation to improve the physical properties of biocomposite materials for food packaging.

In this study, the mechanical and physical properties of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material produced through three-dimensional (3D) printing under different production parameters were investigated. For this purpose, the results obtained by applying heat treatment to the produced samples were examined. Comparisons based on mechanical properties were supported by 3D surface profiles and XRD analyses. According to the obtained results, low nozzle diameter and high printing temperature led to an increase of up to 8% in the elastic modulus and up to 33% in tensile strength of the samples. The heat treatment applied in the study increased tensile strength by up to 8% and elastic modulus by up to 9% in samples produced with a low-diameter nozzle. In conclusion, this study aims to provide a dataset for 3D PEEK designs, intending to enhance the performance of PEEK materials that can be used in medical and industrial applications.

Abstract Background Malaria transmission in Tanzania is driven by mosquitoes of the Anopheles gambiae complex and Anopheles funestus group. The latter includes An. funestus s.s., an anthropophilic vector, which is now strongly resistant to public health insecticides, and several sibling species, which remain largely understudied despite their potential as secondary vectors. This paper provides the initial results of a cross-country study of the species composition, distribution and malaria transmission potential of members of the Anopheles funestus group in Tanzania. Methods Mosquitoes were collected inside homes in 12 regions across Tanzania between 2018 and 2022 using Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps and Prokopack aspirators. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays targeting the noncoding internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and 18S ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA) were used to identify sibling species in the An. funestus group and presence of Plasmodium infections, respectively. Where DNA fragments failed to amplify during PCR, we sequenced the ITS2 region to identify any polymorphisms. Results The following sibling species of the An. funestus group were found across Tanzania: An. funestus s.s. (50.3%), An. parensis (11.4%), An. rivulorum (1.1%), An. leesoni (0.3%). Sequencing of the ITS2 region in the nonamplified samples showed that polymorphisms at the priming sites of standard species-specific primers obstructed PCR amplification, although the ITS2 sequences closely matched those of An. funestus s.s., barring these polymorphisms. Of the 914 samples tested for Plasmodium infections, 11 An. funestus s.s. (1.2%), and 2 An. parensis (0.2%) individuals were confirmed positive for P. falciparum. The highest malaria transmission intensities [entomological inoculation rate (EIR)] contributed by the Funestus group were in the north-western region [108.3 infectious bites/person/year (ib/p/y)] and the south-eastern region (72.2 ib/p/y). Conclusions Whereas An. funestus s.s. is the dominant malaria vector in the Funestus group in Tanzania, this survey confirms the occurrence of Plasmodium-infected An. parensis, an observation previously made in at least two other occasions in the country. The findings indicate the need to better understand the ecology and vectorial capacity of this and other secondary malaria vectors in the region to improve malaria control. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known as one of the best candidate cells to produce cardiac pacemaker-like cells (CPLCs). Upregulation of TBX3 transcription factor and inhibition of the nodal signal pathway have a significant role in the formation of cardiac pacemaker cells such as sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes, which initiate the heartbeat and control the rhythm of heart contractions. This study aimed to confirm the effects of transfection of TBX3 transcription factor and inhibition of the nodal signal pathway on differentiating adipose-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) to CPLCs. AD-MSCs were characterized using flow cytometry and three-lineage differentiation staining. Methods The transfection of TBX3 plasmid was carried out using lipofectamine, and inhibition of the nodal signal pathway was done using the small-molecule SB431542. The morphology of the cells was observed using a light microscope. Pacemaker-specific markers, including TBX3, Cx30, HCN4, HCN1, HCN3, and KCNN4, were evaluated using the qRT-PCR method. For protein level, TBX3 and Cx30 were evaluated using ELISA and immunofluorescence staining. The electrophysiology of cells was evaluated using a patch clamp. Results The TBX3 expression in the TBX3, SM, and TBX + SM groups significantly higher (p

This study aimed to analyze the effect of work from home on job satisfaction mediated by work life balance and its impact on employee performance in the banking industry in Jakarta with the variables work from home, job satisfaction, and organizational identification as independent variables and employee performance as the dependent variable, work life balance as a mediating variable. The method used in sampling in this study was purposive sampling with a total of 200 employees as respondents. Hypothesis testing using the AMOS analysis tool. The results of testing the hypothesis in this study show that work from home has a positive effect on work life balance, work from home has a positive effect on job satisfaction, work life balance has a positive effect on job satisfaction, there is a work from home effect on job satisfaction which mediated by work life balance, job satisfaction has a positive effect on organizational identification, and organizational identification has a positive effect on employee performance. Keywords: Work From Home, Work Life Balance, Job Satisfaction and Organizational Identification, Employee Performance

This study aims to investigate the corrosion resistance of galvanized steel (GS) and AZ31 pipe materials immersed in a magnetized water treatment (MWT) applied river water source. The potentiodynamic corrosion test results showed that a better corrosion rate is obtained by the AZ31(corr.rate: 0.0442 mm/y) specimen than GS (corr.rate: 0.0764 mm/y) due to the passivation efficiency resulting from the calcite and MgO particles on the surface.

The valorization of biogenic waste by hydrothermal carbonization is widely discussed in research. However, to our knowledge, no study has combined almond shells and olive pomace to synthesize a solid carbon material. The purpose of this study is to enhance the hydrochar process from AS and OP using RSM methodology and machine learning models: ANN, SVM and XG-Boost. Subsequently, a study was carried out on the removal of organic pollutants by the synthesized material. The optimum Co-HTC operating conditions obtained at 180 C, 90 min with acid catalyst corresponding to 71.51 % and 87.13 % for mass yield and carbon retention rate respectively according to RSM-CCD. The comparison between RSM-CCD and ML in terms of prediction concludes that RSM remains more efficient in terms of planning and optimization. However, ANN is more suitable for modeling and predicting mass yields and carbon retention rates. Hydrochar’s physicochemical properties were evaluated by the use of spectroscopic methods like FTIR, SEM, XRD, and CHNO. To conclude, we studied the performance of HCop in methylene blue adsorption, varying the following parameters: pH, contact time, initial dye concentration, adsorbent dose and temperature. In addition, kinetic and isothermal models were studied to describe the dominant mechanisms in the MB adsorption process. The MB maximal adsorption using HCop obtained at pH 9, with an initial dye concentration of 100 mg. L−1, 40-min contact time, 0.1 g/L adsorbent dose, and a temperature between 25 and 30 °C. In conclusion, these results provide important information on the use of Co-HTC to convert biogenic wastes into high-performance carbon materials for the appropriate removal of organic pollutants. More studies are needed to use the material in other fields of application.

The development of a bimetallic Fenton-type catalyst with desirable activity and reusability remains a major challenge for the practical degradation of organic pollutants. Herein, we focused on modifying almond shell hydrochar with a Fe/Cu bimetal (Fe/Cu-HC) to develop a catalyst capable of activating H2O2 for degrading MO. The bimetallic Fe/Cu-HC catalyst was synthesized through hydrothermal carbonization and pyrolysis and characterized using SEM, FTIR, BET analysis, and XRD to confirm the presence and uniform dispersion of Cu and Fe co-doped species on HC. The impact of various factors, such as the solution pH (X1), organic pollutant concentration (X2) and catalyst mass (X3), on dye degradation efficiency via heterogeneous Fenton oxidation, was examined using the BBD model coupled with Surface response methodology (RSM). The Fe/Cu-HC catalyst showed superior performance in degrading MO dye compared to single-metal catalysts (Cu-HC, Fe-HC), due to the synergistic interaction between Fe and Cu species. To demonstrate the heterogeneous Fenton catalytic performance of the synthesized FeCu/HC, the results showed that 98.97 % of methyl orange was eliminated under optimal conditions: 100 mg. l-1 of methyl orange, a duration of 1 h, a catalyst mass of 1.65 g. l-1, a pH of 6, and a concentration of 4 mM H2O2. In addition, the Fe/Cu-HC catalyst showed excellent stability over multiple cycles, with minimal metal leaching. These results indicate that Fe/Cu-HC is a promising catalyst for the degradation of methyl orange and pave the way for the development of other cost-effective and efficient bimetallic catalysts for environmental remediation.

BackgroundMachine learning is increasingly being used to diagnose and treat various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Automatic image analysis can expedite tissue analysis and save time. However, using machine learning is limited among researchers due to the requirement of technical expertise. By offering extensible features through plugins and scripts, machine-learning platforms make these techniques more accessible to researchers with limited programming knowledge. The misuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids is prevalent, particularly among athletes and bodybuilders, and there is strong evidence of their detrimental effects on ventricular myocardial capillaries and muscle cells. However, most studies rely on qualitative data, which can lead to bias and limited reliability. We present a user-friendly approach using machine learning algorithms to measure the effects of exercise and anabolic-androgenic steroids on cardiac ventricular capillaries and myocytes in an experimental animal model.MethodMale Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 28): control, exercise-only, anabolic-androgenic steroid-alone, and exercise with anabolic-androgenic steroid. Histopathological analysis of heart tissue was conducted, with images processed and analyzed using the Trainable Weka Segmentation plugin in Fiji software. Machine learning classifiers were trained to segment capillary and myocyte nuclei structures, enabling quantitative morphological measurements.ResultsExercise significantly increased capillary density compared to other groups. However, in the exercise + anabolic-androgenic steroid group, steroid use counteracted this effect. Anabolic-androgenic steroid alone did not significantly impact capillary density compared to the control group. Additionally, the exercise group had a significantly shorter intercapillary distance than all other groups. Again, using steroids in the exercise + anabolic-androgenic steroid group diminished this positive effect.ConclusionDespite limited programming skills, researchers can use artificial intelligence techniques to investigate the adverse effects of anabolic steroids on the heart's vascular network and muscle cells. By employing accessible tools like machine learning algorithms and image processing software, histopathological images of capillary and myocyte structures in heart tissues can be analyzed.

Objective: Major differences in sleep architecture are observed in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to investigate the sleep pattern and frequency of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with SSc, and compare sleep patterns in patients with and without pulmonary hypertension (PH). Materials and Methods: Patients with SSc and symptoms of hypersomnia or insomnia who underwent polysomnography examinations were evaluated. The clinical data of patients were obtained from the patient files. The subjects were separated into two groups (PH-positive and PH-negative). OSA was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5. Sleep parameters were evaluated between the groups. Results: Thirty-six patients with SSc (88.9% females; mean age: 53.1±11.2 years), 27 with diffuse SSc, and 9 with limited-type SSc were enrolled in the study. Approximately 30.6% of the patients with SSc had AHI ≥5 and 13.9% of patients had AHI ≥15. Eight patients with SSc (22.2%) had a periodic leg movement index (PMLI) above 5/h. The percentages of patients with AHI ≥5 and AHI ≥15 were 25.9% and 7.4% in the PH-negative group and 44.4% and 33.3% in the PH-positive group, respectively. The duration of the rapid eye movement sleep stage was significantly shorter in patients with SSc and PH than in those without PH (p=0.02). The percentages of patients with PMLI >5/h were 14.8% in the PH-negative group and 44.4% in the PH-positive group (p=0.086). Conclusion: Sleep disorders are more commonly observed in patients with SSc. Furthermore, OSA and PH are associated with SSc.

The purpose of this field was to study the effect of biochar application and different planting patterns in different irrigation regimes on the growth and yield of thyme essential oil. The studied treatments include irrigation (irrigation of all furrows, irrigation of furrows as one in constant and one in variable (biochar (non-application of biochar and application of biochar at 8 tons per hectare) and planting pattern (single row cultivation) Thyme and cultivation of two rows of thyme) on the growth and yield of the thyme plant. This experiment was carried out in two cropping years of 1397 and 1398 in the form of split plots based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that the highest yield of flowering branches was obtained in the treatment of irrigation of all furrows + application of biochar with mean of 1701 kg. ha-1. In this study, the highest yield of essential oil with 24.7 kg. ha-1 was obtained in the treatment of furrow irrigation as a constant interval + application of biochar + cultivation of two rows of thyme. Based on the results of this study, the application of biochar and two-row cultivation caused a significant increase in the yield of thyme essential oil. In general, despite the decrease in growth and yield of thyme dry matter, furrow irrigation treatments as one-to-one variables increased essential oil yield by significantly increasing the percentage of essential oil and reducing water consumption. Biochar treatment also had a positive effect on all vegetative and functional traits of thyme.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study is to evaluate the marginal adaptation of bulk-fill resin composites with different viscosities (paste-like and flowable) in Class II restorations using micro-CT imaging. Methods Forty extracted human molars were used. Mesial and distal Class II box cavities (approximately 3 mm x 3 mm x 4 mm) were prepared for each tooth, with cavity floors located 1 mm below the enamel-cementum junction. Following adhesive application, teeth were restored using eight different groups: Group XB: X-tra Base Bulk-fill Flowable (VOCO), Group XF: X-tra Fill Bulk-fill (VOCO), Group FB: Filtek Bulk-fill Posterior (3 M ESPE), Group FF: Filtek Bulk-fill Flowable (3 M ESPE), Group BB: Beautifil-Bulk (SHOFU), Group BF: Beautifil-Bulk Flowable (SHOFU), and Group CO: “as a control group”, Clearfil Majesty Posterior (KURARAY) and Group CF: “as a control group”, Clearfil Majesty Flow + Clearfil Majesty Posterior (KURARAY). The restored teeth underwent an aging protocol involving 1000 cycles in a water bath fluctuating between 5 ± 1.0 °C and 55 ± 1.0 °C. Post-aging, teeth were immersed in 50% silver nitrate solution for 24 h and then in a film developer solution for 8 h. Microleakage analysis was performed using micro-CT, evaluated with 3D Slicer software. A two-way ANOVA was employed for statistical analysis. Results Two-way ANOVA results indicated significant effects of both viscosity (p

The increasing complexity of software development demands efficient automated bug report priority classification, and recent advancements in deep learning hold promise. This paper presents a comparative study of contemporary learning paradigms, including BERT, vector databases, large language models (LLMs), and a simple novel learning paradigm, contrastive learning for BERT. Utilizing datasets from bug reports, movie reviews, and app reviews, we evaluate and compare the performance of each approach. We find that transformer encoder-only models outperform in classification tasks measured by the precision, recall, and F1 score transformer decoder-only models despite an order of magnitude gap between the number of parameters. The novel use of contrastive learning for BERT demonstrates promising results in capturing subtle nuances in text data. This work highlights the potential of advanced NLP techniques for automated bug report priority classification and underscores the importance of considering multiple factors when developing models for this task. The paper’s main contributions are a comprehensive evaluation of various learning paradigms, such as vector databases and LLMs, an introduction of contrastive learning for BERT, an exploration of applicability to other text classification tasks, and a contrastive learning procedure that exploits ordinal information between classes.

Irrigation is one of the most important cultural practices in sustainable cabbage cultivation. While most studies on irrigation in cabbage have focused on conventional deficit irrigation (DI) practices, some plants’ water requirements under the partial root drying (PRD) technique are not yet very clear. In this study, the possible responses of cabbage, such as growth, some quality, yield, yield parameters, water use efficiency (WUE), irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and yield response factor (ky), were investigated at four irrigation water levels (125%, 100%, 75%, and 50%) with DI and PRD techniques for 2 years. Irrigation treatments were carried out by the drip irrigation method, and the amount of irrigation water for the control (I-100) was calculated using the measurements taken from the Class-A evaporation container. A total of eight irrigation treatments—four conventional deficit irrigation (I-125, I-100, I-75, I-50) and four partial root drying (PRD-125, PRD-100, PRD75, PRD-50)—were considered in the study. ET values were determined between 47.69–60.78 mm in the first year and 80.11–101.37 mm in the second year. Total and marketable yield values, WUE and IWUE values, were significantly affected by the irrigation treatments. As a result of the research, the highest total and marketable yields were found in I-125, PRD-125, I-100, and PRD-100 treatments. It was important that WUE and IWUE values reached their highest levels in full irrigation and 25% more irrigation treatments as well as in deficit irrigation treatments. In conditions where irrigation water is scarce and expensive, I-75 and PRD-75 applications are also recommended. While an increase in cabbage head height and diameter was observed with increasing irrigation water level, SSC and L values increased at deficit irrigations. According to the correlation coefficients, a positive relationship was determined between marketable yield and head and stem diameter, head height, WUE, and ET for marketable yield. In addition, it was predicted that I-50 and PRD-50 treatments may also be advantageous if the “kc” plant coefficient cover percentage was increased.

The need for reliable and uninterrupted communication systems in the marine environment has become critically important with increasing maritime activities, environmental monitoring, and the spread of autonomous systems. However, the complex structure of electromagnetic wave propagation in a sea environment limits the accuracy of the existing propagation models. Thus, the Modified Round Earth Loss (REL) model was first developed in this study to estimate the path loss more accurately in shore-to-ship communication. Subsequently, a piecewise modeling approach based on the principle of two-segment data modeling was proposed. In the Modified REL model, unlike the traditional REL model, the paths and gains of the direct and reflected waves were not considered equal in the calculations. Moreover, unlike in the classical approach, the receiver height was not taken as a fixed value; the estimated best receiver height value for each measurement was included in the calculations as a representation of the effect of roughness in the sea environment. Thus, the model is better adapted to various environmental conditions. In addition, the proposed piecewise model divides the propagation medium into two regions using a break point calculated by Fresnel zone theory. The Modified REL model was used for the first region and the log-distance model was used for the second region. This method allows for more accurate modeling of signal behaviors, especially at different distances. Experimental measurements and performance evaluations conducted using four different shore-to-ship communication scenarios show that the Modified REL model shows an average improvement of up to 3% in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values compared to the classical REL model. Additionally, the proposed piecewise model improves the fitting error of the Modified REL model, which models the data as a single whole, by an average of 22.25%. These findings emphasize the necessity of propagation models that are sensitive and adaptable to environmental changes for maritime communication.

Pervious concrete is widely used as a paving material. Pervious pavement is generally constructed by pouring fresh pervious concrete and compacting. However, it has some difficulties such as finishing and curing. In addition, the road has to be closed, until the pervious concrete gains enough strength. Pervious concrete block is a new material that can overcome these difficulties. In this study, the effect of compression force on the strength and infiltration rate of pervious concrete blocks has been investigated. The compaction process was different from traditional methods in this study, and was applied according to predesignated compression forces on fresh pervious concrete mixtures sensitively. Within the scope of the study, 36 different mixtures were produced by applying four different compression forces (25, 50, 75, and 100 kN) in three different sample thicknesses (60, 80, and 100 mm) with three different aggregate sizes (2–4, 4–8, and 8–16 mm). As a result, it was found that while the increase in the compression force increases the splitting tensile strength of pervious concrete blocks with 2–4 and 4–8 mm aggregate, it causes a decrease in the strength due to the aggregate crushing phenomenon in mixtures with 8–16 mm aggregate, 6 cm thick samples. In this study, it was seen that the expectation that the increase in compaction would always cause an increase in strength is not valid, contrary to the literature. The infiltration rate decreased as the compression force increased, as expected. It was determined that the new infiltration rate measurement method has been found effective. Considering the strength requirement in the TS 2824 EN 1338 standard, pervious concrete blocks produced with 4–8 mm aggregate, compressed with 75 kN force and having 80 mm thickness have been determined as the optimum block type.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) significantly affects quality of life and imposes economic burdens due to its prevalence and the disability it causes. The efficacy of current treatments is limited to alleviating the symptoms, and they cannot be used for regenerative purposes. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combining hyaluronic acid (HA), human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs), and synthetic human growth hormone (somatotropin) in the treatment of knee OA, assessing pain relief, functional improvement, and cartilage regeneration. Methods: A four-arm, double-blind randomized trial was conducted with 51 knees from 28 subjects aged ≥50 with primary knee OA. The treatments involved were HA alone, HA with hUC-MSCs, HA with somatotropin, and a combination of all three. Efficacy was measured through the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and visual analog score (VAS), and MRI T2 mapping of cartilage was conducted on pre-implantation at the 6th and 12th month. Results: All treatment arms showed improvements in the VAS and WOMAC scores over 12 months, suggesting some pain relief and functional improvement. However, MRI T2 mapping showed no significant cartilage regeneration across the groups. Conclusions: While the combined use of HA, hUC-MSCs, and somatotropin improved symptoms of knee OA, it did not enhance cartilage regeneration significantly. This study highlights the potential of these combinations for symptom management but underscores the need for further research to optimize these therapies for regenerative outcomes.

This research focuses on the application of the Direct Torque Control (DTC) strategy to manage the terminal voltage of a Self-excited induction generator (SEIG) that supplies power to an autonomous load. The SEIG is connected to a three-level Neutral Point Clamped (3L_NPC) converter. The utilization of the 3L_NPC converter ensures the increase in generated voltage levels, leading to improved current waveform quality and reducing the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) in the stator currents. To ensure a more stable and dependable power supply, this study also introduces an Energy Storage System (EESS) consisting of batteries (BT) along with a management algorithm designed to oversee power flows between different storage devices. Furthermore, the dynamic model of the SEIG incorporates the saturation effect of magnetic materials and is conducted in the frame using the Concordia transform. The efficacy of the proposed control strategy is verified through simulation tests conducted in MATLAB/Simulink.

Introduction: Anterior vaginal wall prolapse (AVWP), previously known as cystocele, is a herniation of the anterior vaginal wall and the bladder. It is a multifactorial pathology. Patients with AVWP may report a feeling of pelvic pressure and something bulging out of the vagina, urinary incontinence, and dyspareunia which are nonspecific symptoms. Case: A 73-year-old married Turkish G4P4 female who has been menopausal for 20 years, presented to the outpatient clinic with dysuria and urinary incontinence lasting for two weeks, and a palpable mass located in the genital area for 2 years. On her vaginal examination, the vagina and cervix appeared normal, and a grade 3 AVWP along with a semi-mobile mass extending from the distal urethra to the bladder base under the cystocele pouch was observed. She was diagnosed with a grade 3 AVWP with a plan for the surgical excision. A bilobular cystic mass was observed under the urethra, extending to the bladder wall with a size of 4-5 cm. The macroscopic examination showed a membraneous tissue piece of 4.5 x 2.8 x 2 cm, and the microscopic examination revealed a caseified granulomatous inflammation. Upon the suspicion of tuberculosis, we referred her to the infectious diseases (ID) clinic. Her PPD test was 0 mm. She had no complaints of active tuberculosis. She presented to our clinic with urinary incontinence. On her vaginal examination, involuntary leakage of urine with bladder stimulation was observed. We planned the implantation of transvaginal tape (TVT). Discussion: We believe that this case will help establish an idea about the differential diagnosis of AVWP. The differential diagnosis should include the other possible genitourinary pathologies due to the close proximity of the anterior vaginal wall to the bladder and the urethra before ensuring the diagnosis of the AVWP in order not to misdiagnose.

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’de 2002-2019 döneminde faiz, döviz kuru ve enflasyonun gelir dağılımına etkilerini araştırmak ve literatürdeki konu hakkında eksikliği gidermektir. Zira literatürde çeşitli makroekonomik unsurların gelir dağılımına etkilerini araştıran çalışmaların varlığına rağmen, faiz ve döviz kuru ile enflasyonun gelir dağılımı üzerine etkilerini bütünüyle araştıran çalışma tespit edilememiştir. Çalışmada, Türkiye’de 2002-2019 dönemi için faiz, enflasyon ve reel efektif döviz kurunun gelir dağılımı üzerindeki etkileri ekonometrik olarak araştırılmış ve bu etkiler çerçevesinde dinamik ilişkiler tespit edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Bu amaçla, 3 model oluşturulmuş ve bu modeller ARDL sınır testi yaklaşımına dayanan eş-bütünleşme analiziyle sınanmıştır. Buna göre Türkiye’de ele alınan dönemde faiz oranındaki %1’lik bir artışın, gelir dağılımını temsil eden Gini endeksini %0.016; enflasyon oranındaki %1’lik bir artışın, Gini endeksini %0.16 ve reel efektif döviz kurundaki %1’lik bir artışın Gini endeksini %0.40 oranında arttırdığı tespit edilmiştir.

The multisystemic effects of COVID-19 may continue for a longer time period following the acute phase, depending on the severity of the disease. However, long-term systemic transcriptomic changes associated with COVID-19 disease and the impact of disease severity are not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 and its severity on transcriptomic alterations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) following 1 year of the disease. PBMCs were isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy control donors who did not have COVID-19 (C; n = 13), from COVID-19 patients without pneumonia (NP; n = 11), and from COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia (SP; n = 10) after 1-year of follow-up. Following RNA isolation from PBMCs, high-quality RNAs were sequenced after creating a library. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (DElncRNAs) were identified using Benjamini–Hochberg correction and they were analysed for hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA). Intergroup comparisons (C vs. NP, C vs. SP, and NP vs. SP) of DEGs and DElncRNAs were performed and hub genes were determined. Functional enrichment analyses of DEGs and DElncRNAs were made using Metascape (v3.5.20240101) and the first version of NCPATH. The RNA sequencing analysis revealed 4843 DEGs and 1056 DElncRNAs in “C vs. NP”, 1651 DEGs and 577 DElncRNAs in “C vs. SP”, and 954 DEGs and 148 DElncRNAs in “NP vs. SP”, with 291 DEGs and 70 DElncRNAs shared across all groups, respectively. We identified 14 hub genes from 291 DEGs, with functional enrichment analysis showing upregulated DEGs mainly linked to inflammation and osteoclast differentiation and downregulated DEGs to viral infections and immune responses. The analysis showed that 291 common and 14 hub genes were associated with pneumonia and that these genes could be regulated by the transcription factors JUN and NFκB1 carrying the NFκB binding site. We also revealed unique immune cell signatures across DEG categories indicating that the upregulated DEGs were associated with neutrophils and monocytes, while downregulated DEGs were associated with CD4 memory effector T cells. The comparative transcriptomic analysis of NP and SP groups with 52 gene signatures suggestive of IPF risk showed a lower risk of IPF in the SP group than the NP patients. Our findings suggest that COVID-19 may cause long term pathologies by modulating the expression of various DEGs, DeLncRNAs, and hub genes at the cellular level.

Summary: Background: Chronic cough is a common respiratory symptom with an impact on daily activities and quality of life. Global prevalence data are scarce and derive mainly from European and Asian countries and studies with outcomes other than chronic cough. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronic cough across a large number of study sites as well as to identify its main risk factors using a standardised protocol and definition. Methods: We analysed cross-sectional data from 33,983 adults (≥40 years), recruited between Jan 2, 2003 and Dec 26, 2016, in 41 sites (34 countries) from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study. We estimated the prevalence of chronic cough for each site accounting for sampling design. To identify risk factors, we conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis within each site and then pooled estimates using random-effects meta-analysis. We also calculated the population attributable risk (PAR) associated with each of the identifed risk factors. Findings: The prevalence of chronic cough varied from 3% in India (rural Pune) to 24% in the United States of America (Lexington,KY). Chronic cough was more common among females, both current and passive smokers, those working in a dusty job, those with a history of tuberculosis, those who were obese, those with a low level of education and those with hypertension or airflow limitation. The most influential risk factors were current smoking and working in a dusty job. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that the prevalence of chronic cough varies widely across sites in different world regions. Cigarette smoking and exposure to dust in the workplace are its major risk factors. Funding: Wellcome Trust.

The textile industry’s waste often contains excessive amounts of crystal violet (CV), leading to environmental concerns. Graphene oxide has been studied as a promising adsorbent for removing crystal violet, a cationic dye, from aqueous solutions. The study involved a comprehensive analysis of various experimental parameters, including initial concentration, pH, adsorbent mass, contact time, and temperature. Graphene oxide underwent thorough analysis using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and specific surface area determination via the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was also employed. This study aimed to optimize the synthesis yield of graphene oxide from graphite using the Hummers method and response surface methodology (RSM), achieving a yield of 106.14% with 5 g of KMnO4 and 1 g of NaNO3 for 8 hours. The graphene oxide was analyzed via FTIR, XRD, SEM, BET, pHpzc, and EDS. Optimal conditions for maximal adsorption included 0.016 g of graphene oxide, 18 minutes of contact time, pH 10, and a temperature of 25°C, resulting in a 97.38% reduction in crystal violet with a monolayer adsorption capacity of 470.78 mg/g. Kinetic data were best fitted by the pseudosecond-order model, and the Langmuir isotherm accurately depicted adsorption. Thermodynamic analysis indicated spontaneous (ΔG°

Lumbar intrathecal administration provides an ideal route for drug delivery into the central nervous system, especially when dorsal root ganglions are the main target for the therapy in rat model of chronic pain. Two main methods of lumbar intrathecal administrations are chronic catheter implantation and the acute needle puncture. Chronic catheter implantation involves surgical manipulation to insert micro indwelling catheter into the intrathecal space. However, this method is invasive, produces inflammatory reactions, and generates more surgical stress. Acute needle puncture is less invasive and cheaper however is technically challenging to perform. We performed an ultrasound-guided lumbar intrathecal injection in six male Sprague Dawley rat cadavers, on average weighing 250-300 grams. Fresh rat cadavers were positioned in a sternal recumbent position, vertebrae were palpated and scanned using a linear probe ultrasound. A 25G needle insertion was advanced with real-time ultrasound guidance, and placement was confirmed prior to dye injection (Methylene blue, Sigma Aldrich). Cadavers were then dissected, and the vertebrae were visually inspected for dye staining. All three cadavers that underwent intrathecal injection with sagittal and axial plane ultrasound guidance showed positive dye staining within the intrathecal space, confirming successful acute intrathecal administration. There was one successful intrathecal injection under sagittal plane-only ultrasound guidance. Ultrasound is a useful, operator-dependent tool to guide acute needle puncture intrathecal administration.

Background. In psychiatry, anatomical abnormalities are sometimes forgotten, and this can mislead doctors into thinking that the diagnosis is purely psychiatric. A physical examination is important whenever it is possible. Even though cerebral arteriovenous malformations (cAVMs) are rare and can go unnoticed, in some cases they can cause clinical symptoms, which is a complication. Case Presentation. In this case, we describe a patient with no prior medical or psychiatric history having a cAVM diagnosed after showing psychotic symptoms (delusion and disorganized thoughts and behavior). The deep 4 × 5 cm cAVM was discovered after admitting the patient to psychiatric ward, the neurological cause has been considered after a recorded seizure, which brings the following question: Is the clinical presentation a direct result of the cAVM or is it postictal? Conclusions. An abnormality leading to another, here is how we could describe our patient’s psychopathology leading to psychotic symptoms. The two hypotheses explaining this case report have a low rate of occurring making this a rare case. Either way, neurological cause cannot be overlooked even if the clinical presentation is typical.

Objective:The purpose of this study is to investigate the utility of systemic immune inflammation index as a predictor of disease severity in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: 200 patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis according to ACR knee osteoarthritis diagnostic criteria were included in the study. Kellgren-Lawrence staging of knee osteoarthritis, Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index score and systemic immune-inflammation index score were calculated among all participants Results: There were 152 (%76) female and 48 (%24) male participants and median score of age was 63 (54,25-70). 14 (7%) grade 1 gonarthrosis, 64 (32%) grade 2, 72 (36%) grade 3 and 50 (25%) grade 4 gonarthrosis patients were detected. There was no significant correlation between the systemic immune-inflammation index and the radiological stage of gonarthrosis (Kellgren Lawrens Score) (p=0.238). No statistically significant correlation was found between the systemic immune-inflammation index and WOMAC scores (p=0.593). Conclusion: The systemic immune-inflammation index was not found to be correlated with disease severity in knee OA.

Introduction: Due to the limited resources and facilities that organizations face, we must first identify and prioritize the factors that are of higher importance to customers and will lead to their satisfaction, and then based on priority and importance. Agents took the necessary measures to provide goods and services that meet the highest degree of customer satisfaction. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to rank the criteria and sub-criteria affecting the decision to buy steel ingots customers and, in this regard, the role of ethical factors has been considered. Material and Methods: The method used in this research is DANP method. The statistical population was experts, business managers and CEOs of companies buying steel ingots, 19 of which were selected by purposive sampling. The analysis tool was an interview and a questionnaire. The data analysis method was Dematel method and drawing their causal diagrams and ranking the factors influencing the decision-making process of steel ingots using ANP method. Results: The results showed that the criterion of economic factors of purchase with a weight of 0.2208 ranked first, the criterion of specific factors of seller with a weight of 0.1998 second, the criterion of ethical factors with a weight of 0.1952 third, the criterion of specific factors of product with a weight of 0.1923 fourth and finally Buying conditions factors with a weight of 0.1919 are ranked fifth. Conclusion: The present study showed that the main factors in customers' purchasing decision include economic factors, seller-related factors, ethical relationship, product-related factors and factors related to purchase conditions.

The walking of humanoid robots is dependent on the precise tracking of their center of gravity and foot trajectories. Trajectory tracking is achieved by mobilizing their joints to achieve the correct trajectory. Errors occur because of assumptions on tracking the center of gravity and the foot trajectories. In this study, a numerical algorithm was developed that produces an exact and single kinematic solution in which the center of gravity and foot trajectories can be tracked with the desired precision. The effectiveness of this algorithm was examined with a dynamic simulation and compared with a method given in the literature. The main highlight of this study, using the presented algorithm, is that the robot could walk even if the position of its center of gravity was lower than its hips, resulting in a tracking error that was smaller than that reported in the literature.

In recent years, endovascular treatments have become more common in patients with renal artery stenosis and aneurysm. Although the treatment algorithms are not universally accepted, endovascular therapy can be readily utilized for the appropriate indications in the context of surgical treatment for renovascular diseases. The most important factor to consider is that the correct indication is applied for such treatment. Although the applied procedures are believed to have minimal risk, any complications that occur may result in major problems. Moreover, the pathology that is being treated (e.g., hypertension, high serum creatinine concentration, or low glomerular filtration rate) must be well defined. As stent and balloon technologies continue to be developed, more positive results are expected in the coming years. In the present study, we reviewed the endovascular treatment algorithms for atherosclerotic renovascular disease and performed a narrative review of the current literature.

This Community Service Activity was held because the competency demands required by teachers in the independent curriculum were getting higher. Therefore Technical Guidance was expected to be one of the solutions for every teacher and school. Because in this Technical Guidance, all information is presented operationally and technically, with competent sources, a short duration, and is not boring. So, Participants can take part in activities to improve their competence quickly. The research that underlies the preparation of this Community Service article is qualitative research with a descriptive method, where the descriptive study is research conducted to describe or describe the implementation of the Webinar and Bimtek, which includes themes, timeliness, atmosphere, the competence of resource persons, completeness of the material, service/attitude of the committee, and tools. Furthermore, the success of this Community Service activity can be measured starting from preparation, participation, implementation, and evaluation. This Community Service activity resulted in several products, including a 32 (thirty-two) hour certificate, from the Chancellor of the Nusantara Islamic University at Bandung, the Chancellor of the "45" Islamic University at Bekasi, and the BAZNAS at Bekasi City. In addition, Participants also received Technical Guidance material and assignment templates in preparing teaching materials for the Strengthening Pancasila Student Profile Project. This Community Service activity also resulted in several institutional collaborations as a form of academic concern

Compared to gravity flow systems, pressurized drip irrigation provides more efficient control of the amount of water applied, better irrigation uniformity, and a higher initial capital and operation costs. Hence, an economic analysis is required to determine its profitability over a projected time period. Field experiments were conducted in Afaka (Kaduna, Nigeria), during two dry seasons of 2018 and 2019 to determine the effect of regulated deficit irrigation on the yield, crop water productivity, and projected economic returns of UC 82B tomatoes under pressurized drip irrigation. The economic returns were evaluated using the benefit-cost ratio, net present values, and payback period analyses. The highest fresh fruit yield (19.0 t/ha) was obtained in the full irrigation treatment (T1), while the highest crop water productivity (4.94 kg/m3 ) was obtained in the deficit treatment with full irrigation at the vegetative and flowering stages followed by 60% of reference evapotranspiration at maturity (T7). The project was found to be profitable over the projected years, with benefit-cost ratios of 1.90 and 1.69; payback periods of 2.7 and 3.2 years for T1 and T7, respectively. The full irrigation of tomatoes was therefore found to be more economical than deficit irrigation in the area, with water not being considered as a limiting factor in terms of costs. Gravity drip irrigation was recommended to reduce the pumping cost of irrigation and thereby increase the profit margin.

Education– no one doubts – essentially represents a strong instrument that is used in the process of executing revivalist projects, but also ensuring a development and advancement of people both at individual and societal level. That is why reformers pay great attention to knowledge which they, more than arguably, any other constituency of people, regard as the most potent weapon that facilitates the success of reform missions. The basic and common belief is that people find themselves in whatever deplorable condition and state of backwardness owing to their neglect of knowledge, which then makes them trapped in the shackles of ignorance. As a result, stressing the value of education and demonstrating this through operational initiatives by way of sensitizing, reawakening, enlightening and orienting people via various methods and approaches commensurate with the existing realities are all considered as steps toward liberating people from the grip of ignorance which has enslaved them until they rise and decisively fight it. This article highlights and appraises the educational views, thoughts and philosophy of Shaykh Ja’far Mahmud Adam (d. 2007), one of Nigeria’s most prominent Muslim reformers and most influential scholars. The article relies chiefly on the recorded speeches of the scholar in which he articulated his views during public occasions such as weekly Friday sermons, mosque lessons, public lectures or private study circles, which then circulated among larger Muslim audience. The essay finds out that Ja’far’s views on knowledge permeate both religious and Western education which he felt that society must standardize before it develops.

Piroxicam is a popular anti-inflammatory drug that displays palliative and antipyretic activity. Peppermint oil is a common flavoring used in foods and drinks. To investigate the defensive action of Peppermint oil against the hepatic and renal histological damage induced by Piroxicam in mice.

Solid waste (SW) generated from extracting of essential oils from medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) is an abundant and renewable resource, but proper recycling is necessary to prevent negative environmental impacts from improper disposal. This study focused on converting SW from essential oil (EO) extraction industry by citric acid-catalyzed hydrothermal carbonization (c-HTC) coupled with chemical activation into a carbonaceous material to remove organic pollutants. For this purpose, an I-optimal design coupled with response surface methodology (RSM) was developed to investigate the relationship between the severity factor (SF) of the c-HTC process and citric acid dose (HTCcat) on carbon retention rate (CRR) and hydrochar mass yield (MY). Under optimal conditions (5.32 and 2 g for SF and HTCcat, respectively), an optimized hydrochar (HCop) was characterized by a CRR and MY of 71.02% and 56.14%, respectively. HCop was chemically activated by KOH solution (AHCop) and characterized by a specific surface area of 989.81 m2.g−1, a pore volume of 0.583 cm3.g−1, a higher heating value (HHV) of 37.3 MJ/Kg, oxygenated surface functions such as –OH, –COOH, C-O and a methylene blue (MB) removal rate of 90.71%. In addition, modelling of the adsorption isotherms found that the Freundlich isotherm better describes the experimental data, and the second-order model regulates the adsorption kinetics well. Furthermore, The maximum adsorption capacity of AHCop was 588.24 mg.g−1, with a separation factor of 0.625 under the operating conditions (t = 6 h, T = 25 °C, m(AHCop) = 0.2 g, [MB]0 = 300 mg.L-1, and pH = 7), indicating its potential for effectively removing organic pollutants. Together, these results provide crucial information on using c-HTC to convert waste biomass into functional carbon materials to remove organic pollutants efficiently. Therefore, several studies must be conducted out to discover other application fields of this material.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this quantitative research was to investigate the effect of gravitational forces on the marginal integrity of different bulk-fill composites by micro-CT imaging. Materials and Methods: Fifty caries-free human third molars extracted for prophylactic purposes were used in this study. Each tooth was prepared with two proximal box cavities, with dimensions of 3 mm × 3 mm × 5 mm. Five distinct groups, each comprising 20 cavities, thus totaling 100 cavities for this study: (1, Group CON): Clearfil Majesty Flow + Clearfil Majesty Esthetic (as the control); (2, Group FBR): Filtek Bulk-fill Flowable Restorative + Clearfil Majesty Esthetic; (3, Group XTB): Voco Extrabase + Clearfil Majesty Esthetic; (4, Group SDR): SDR + Clearfil Majesty Esthetic; and (5, Group SNC): Sonicfill. When restoring the mesial cavities, the occlusal surfaces of the teeth in the mold were positioned upwards, counteracting the force of gravity. In contrast, for the restoration of the distal cavities, the occlusal surfaces were aligned downwards, to be parallel with the gravitational pull. After restorative procedures, each tooth was treated with 5000 thermal cycles. A solution of ammoniacal silver nitrate (AgNO3) was employed as a tracing agent. The micro-CT scans were conducted and the total volume of silver nitrate and the total volume of restorations within the relevant region of interest were calculated in “mm3” with software. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests were performed at a significance level of p = 0.05 with Graphpad Prism v 8.2.1 software. Results: Both gravity effect and interaction showed no statistical differences (p > 0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed in the restorative materials (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Gravitational forces do not emerge as a major factor affecting the marginal integrity of flowable bulk-fill composites in class II restorations. The chemical composition of the composites plays a more crucial role, with the XTB composite showing higher microleakage ratios compared to the others.

The main problem in utilizing silica as an alternative reinforcing filler for natural rubber (NR) compounds is a weak rubber-filler interaction and poor filler distribution due to their incompatibility feature. The particles of silica have a strong tendency to filler interactions which leads to form silica agglomeration. To solve this drawback, this work has utilized ethanolamine-modified palm stearin (EMPS) as a renewable compatibilizer agent to improve NR-silica compatibility. The EMPS was prepared by a typical chemical reaction between ethanolamine and refined bleach-deodorized palm stearin (a byproduct of cooking oil production) on a laboratory scale. The influence of the EMPS on the improvement of rubber-filler interaction was investigated by studying the processing characteristics and the tensile properties of silica-reinforced NR compound (silica content was fixed at 30 phr). Compared to the silica-reinforced NR with no EMPS, it was found that EMPS caused a greater coefficient of vulcanization, tensile strength, and reinforcement effect for the silica-reinforced NR. It was due to an active reaction between silanol groups of silica with EMPS which increased the NR-silica compatibility, and the Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) analysis has confirmed the typical reaction.

The processing and tensile properties of the compounds of natural rubber (NR) filled with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or silica filler in the presence of lauryl alcohol have been investigated. The NR was filled with each of those fillers at a fixed concentration, i.e., 30 phr, and they were compounded with lauryl alcohol as a filler dispersant with varied concentrations on a laboratory mill by applying the semi-efficient vulcanization recipe. A typical oscillating disc rheometer (ODR) was utilized for the determination of processing properties. From the results, it was observed that CaCO3 or silica with lauryl alcohol had increased the rate coefficient of vulcanization (RV) of the filled NR compounds with a reduction in viscousness or minimal torsion. The results also showed that the lauryl alcohol additions have enhanced the tensile properties of obtained filled NR compounds. The greater the lauryl alcohol concentration, the greater the rate coefficient of vulcanization and tensile strength of both types of filled NR. The overall results have indicated that the lauryl alcohol performance in enhancements of processing and tensile properties was more pronounced on calcium carbonate than silica.

This study investigates the potential for wind energy generation in various regions of Indonesia, which have been identified to potentially produce over 100 megawatts (MW) of electrical energy. In response to the need for rural electrification and the utilization of this wind potential, we developed a low-speed generator suitable for rural, energy-independent power plants. The objectives were twofold: to design a low-speed generator optimized for low rotational speeds reflective of local wind conditions, and to assess its performance in electricity generation. Our research methodology encompassed an analytical comparison of exploratory data and literature to devise a generator design compatible with rural wind patterns. This involved calculating the necessary wind acceleration to actuate the designed generator. Subsequently, a prototype was designed, constructed, and tested, examining variables such as iron core composition, winding wire, magnetic strength, and electrical output under wind-driven conditions. The performance tests revealed that the Low-Speed Generator produced an average voltage output scaling with rotational speed–from 5.3V at 100rpm to 21.1V at 500rpm. The peak voltage output at 500rpm rotation reinforces the generator’s efficacy in higher rotational regimes. Such findings advocate for the Low-Speed Generator’s application as a sustainable solution to the rural energy crisis, aligning with the broader objectives of equitable energy distribution and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Objectives: Septic arthritis (SA) is a serious bacterial infection that must be treated efficiently and timely. The large number of culture-negative cases makes local epidemiological data important. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the etiology, clinical characteristics, and therapeutic approach of SA in children in Turkiye, emphasizing the role of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques in the diagnosis. Methods: In this multi-center, prospective study, children hospitalized due to SA between February 2018 and July 2020 in 23 hospitals in 14 cities in Turkiye were included. Clinical, demographic, laboratory, and radiological findings were assessed, and real-time PCR was performed using synovial fluid samples. Results: Seventy-five children aged between 3 and 204 months diagnosed with acute SA were enrolled. Joint pain was the main complaint at admission, and the most commonly involved joints were the knees in 58 patients (77.4%). The combination of synovial fluid culture and real-time PCR detected causative bacteria in 33 patients (44%). In 14 (18.7%) patients, the etiological agent was demonstrated using only PCR. The most commonly isolated etiologic agent was Staphylococcus aureus, which was detected in 22 (29.3%) patients, while Streptococcus pyogenes was found in 4 (5.3%) patients and Kingella kingae in 3 (4%) patients. Streptococcus pyogenes and Kingella kingae were detected using only PCR. Most patients (81.3%) received combination therapy with multiple agents, and the most commonly used combination was glycopeptides plus third-generation cephalosporin. Conclusions: Staphylococcus aureus is the main pathogen in pediatric SA, and with the use of advanced diagnostic approaches, such as real-time PCR, the chance of diagnosis increases, especially in cases due to Kingella kingae and Streptococcus pyogenes.

The active SCR aftertreatment system is one of the most crucial technology for the NOx reduction of diesel engines. One of the essential parameters of this technology is the urea spray performance on the catalyst. This study presents an experimental and numerical investigation of urea spray behavior used in the heavy-duty diesel engine's selective catalytic reduction (SCR) aftertreatment systems.The custom test rig is designed and built to simulate exhaust aftertreatment systems of heavy-duty diesel vehicles. Urea injector parameters were observed in this test rig with optic windows for spray and flow visualization. This test rig is available to simulate diesel engines in the sense of exhaust mass flow rate, temperature and spray control unit. The discussion is made about the effects of droplet size of spray and velocity distribution upon flow characterization.A detailed assessment of the numerical model was presented, and validation was carried out for different interest measurement locations. The predicted droplet size distributions, breakup performance, and velocities are numerically and correlated with the experimental data. The validated model is subsequently used to study the urea-flow mixing dynamics to develop a urea mixer numerically. Test results show that smaller droplets enhance the mixing and thus catalyst efficiency. Mixer design performance can be assessed numerically in the droplet size break up based on the developed criteria called mixer performance criteria. Upstream and downstream of the mixer, droplet size can be extracted from the simulation, and different mixer designs can be compared in terms of the breakup performance.